CATEGORY: NEWS
The United Active Living Care teams were recently honoured with the Vivien Lai Changemaker Awards from the Association on Gerontology.
United Active Living’s Directors of Health & Wellness Keziah Angeles (Garrison Green) and Eka Etokudo (Fish Creek), and the incredible United Health and Wellness teams at both communities were honoured with the prestigious Vivien Lai Changemaker Award from the Alberta Association on Gerontology (AAG). Eka and Keziah attended the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the Health and Wellness team this past June in Edmonton and were recognized for the team’s commitment to integrated communities and quality care.
“I am immensely proud to accept this award on behalf of the team. It is a huge honor in itself to be a part of the Health and Wellness Team and United Active Living because we know that we are truly manifesting and fulfilling our vision of providing a resident-centered, nurturing integrated environment at United,” Keziah says, “To have our efforts recognized by the AAG by receiving the award was a huge testament to the ways we are making a positive impact on seniors and their families.”
2024 marked the first year of the Changemaker award, which was established in honour of Vivien Lai, a long-time advocate for seniors in Alberta. Vivien was known as a visionary and leader, which put her on an international stage as a leader in innovative senior care. Integration, or in other words, communities where people aren’t separated based on differing care needs, was an area she was passionate about.
“Meeting Vivien’s husband was such an honour,” says Eka, “We are so inspired by the fact United is creating communities that align with her vision of community, connection, and innovation. We see the difference living in an integrated community has for residents of all abilities and families too. It’s a joy to be a part of a community that celebrates older adults and meets them where they’re at.”
Please join us in sharing congratulations with Eka, Keziah, and the teams for being a shining example of innovation in service delivery for older adults. Your dedication is truly inspiring!
About the Alberta Association on Gerontology (AAG)
The AAG is an Alberta-based not-for-profit organization that advocates for older adults in Alberta communities. Their mission is to collaborate with government organizations, Alberta residents, educators, and service providers to create connections, resources, and policies to ensure older adults in Alberta have access to continuing care, social connections, and opportunities to enhance their quality of life.
The AAG hosts events each year to engage stakeholders, and offer opportunities to share and celebrate their contributions to the senior care sector. This year, the AAG honoured Vivien Lai, a long-time advocate for seniors in Alberta by creating the changemakers awards in her name. Vivien dedicated her life’s work to developing innovative continuing care policies for seniors in Alberta and was known as a visionary and leader in her field both locally and internationally.
About the award
The Vivien Lai Changemaker Award recognizes individual or team merit in supporting Alberta’s transformative journey in service delivery innovation. Developed by the AAG’s Future Policy Forum/Culture Change Project and Stakeholder Collaborative Committee, this award highlights outstanding contributions to the field.
About the nomination
United’s integrated model, which celebrates connection, lifelong learning, and individuality, is something quite unique in older adult living communities. It often means couples can stay together longer. It also means individuals living with a cognitive impairment enjoy a high quality of life by continuing to explore their passions and interests and maintaining valuable social connections. United is broadly considered both a pioneer and leader in senior living within Canada and across North America for its integrated approach. United Minds cognitive support services, alongside a relationship-centered focus, continues to be recognized and celebrated by industry experts, and is made possible by an amazing team of professionals dedicated to bringing United’s vision of integration to life.
